Dispensing container



March 2s, 1939. C, C, MORR.SON 2,152,600

DISPENSING `CONTAINER Filed June 22. 195s ill!" ce, 33 c Patented Mar. 28, 1939 uNxTED sTATEs 2,152,600 y nTsPENsTNG comma Charles C. Morrison, New York, N. Y., assigner to lContinental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation oi' New York Application June 22, 1938, Serial No.v 215,274

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in dispensing containers, and more particularly to improvements in a dispensing conl tainer having a closure which is shiftable in opposite directions for opening or closing a dispens- Y ing opening in the container.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing container of the above type, wherein the closure is resiliently maintained in contact with the adjacent surface of the container and is normally held in position for closing the dispensing opening.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing container of the above type, wherein ,spring closing means are provided for normally forcing the closure from open to closed position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing container of the above type, wherein the closure includes inner and outer closure members, one of which is adapted to house the spring closing means.

- A still further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing container oi' the above type,

wherein the inner closure member is in the form of a spring plate maintaining both closure members in contact with the adjacent surfaces of the container and wherein the outer closure vmember is recessed to house the spring closing means.

The above and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious, and will be hereinafte more fully pointed out.

In the-accompanying drawing,

Figure l is a top plan view showing the means in a closed position. y

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view of Figure 1, in section, showing the closure means.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modified form of spring closing means.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of Figure 3 with the outer closure member removed.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the body portion I of the container is illustrated as being substantially oval in shape, but it is to vbe closure` clearly understood that the container may be of any desired shape.` The body portion is provided with a neck portion II which is integrally joined to the body portion by an outward bead I2. 'Ihe container top I3 is provided with a depending flange I4 which fits over the neck portion I I and abuts against the outward bead I2. It is to be clearly understood that the can top I3 may be secured to the body portion I 0 in any suitable manner.

The container top is illustrated as being bowed y (ci. azi-sz) upwardly and is provided with an outwardly of!- set portion I5. The outwardly offset portion I5 is curved and forms an internal recess thereunder with the wall portion I6 between the offset portion I5 and the top I3 providing an internal 5 shoulder. A part of the oiset portion I5 is cut away to provide a longitudinal slot Ifl. A portion of the metal removed to provide the slot I1 is bent upwardly, as at I8, at one end of the offset portion I5. 'I'he oppositeend I9 of the offset portion I5 is provided with a dispensing opening 20.

An inner closure member 2I is illustrated as being in the form of a spring plate which is adapted to fit within the recess defined beneath the outwardly offset portion I5 in the can top I3, when the container is closed. This inner spring closure membery seals the openings through the offset portion I5 and is provided at one end thereof with a downwardly curved portion 2`Ia which is adapted to ride over the internal shoulder formed by the adjacent wall portion I6 of the can top when the container is opened.

Anouter closure member 22 may be made of Bakelite or other molded substance, and isprovided with a transversely extending serrated thumb or finger piece. This outer closure member 22 is adapted to overlie the offset portion I5 on the can top and is provided with a depending boss 23 which is of the same width as the slot I1 and extends into the slot. The inner closure member 2I is secured to the depending boss 23 by a screw 2l or the like, and the boss thuscooperates with the sides of the slot I1 to permit sliding movement of the closure members without relative turning therebetween. To further guard against relative turning between the inner and outer closure members, the inner closure member 2| is provided with an upward projection 25 which is embedded in a corresponding recess in the boss 23 in order to properly locate the closure vmembers relative to one another.

'I'he outer closure member 22 isv provided with an internal recess 25 opening toward the slot II and of substantially the same'width. 'I'his recess -26 extends from one edge of the boss 23 toward the upwardly bent portion I8 on the can top I3. The portion I8 is adapted to extend into the recess 26 and is of substantially the same width thereof.

zAs shownin Figures 1 and 2, a leaf or ribbon spring 28 is disposed in the recess 26 with the ends thereof bearing against the upstanding portion I8 and the opposite end of the recess. The spring 26 thus tends to normally force the closure 5 can be dispensed, pressureis applied to the outer closure 22 against the action of the leaf spring 28. Thus, the inner and outer closure members are moved tothe right, as 'viewed in Figure 2,

so that the dispensing opening is uncovered.

During this movement of the closure members,

the downwardly turned portion 2|a on the inner spring closure 2| .will ride over the internal shoulder provided by the wall portion I6. .When pressure is released from. the outer closure 'member 22, the spring 28 which abuts against the oterclosure member and the portion I8 on the can top will force both the closure members in4 the opposite direction for covering the dispensing opening. The spring 28 thus tends to normally maintain the .closure members in a closed position. The inner spring closure member 2| serves to maintain both closure members in engagement with the adjacent faces of the oilset portion |5.- The upwardly projecting portion I8 which extends into the recess 26 serves to prevent rotation of the closure members but permits sliding movement thereof. Likewise, the boss 23 on the outer closure member cooperatesl with the sides of the slot I1 to guide the closure members in rectilinear movement.

Inthe form of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, a coil spring 28a is employed for normally closing the container. As shown in Figure '4, the slot lla in the offset portion I5a may be 35.

narrower than the slot shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Similarly, the recess 26a in the outer closureA member 22a is slightly narrower so as to snugly house -the coil spring. The operation of this form of the invention is substantially the same as that pointed outin connection with Figures 1 and 2. In order to uncover the dispensing opening20a, pressure is applied to the outer closure member 22a so as to effect movement of both closure members against the action of the coil spring 28a. The downwardly turned edge of the inner spring closure member 2l will ride over the. internal shoulder defined by the wall portion I6a. When it is desired to close the container, pressure is released from the outer closure member 22a and the coil spring 28a which abuts against the upwardly projecting portion ma on the can top will force the closure members to closing position. As in the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, the upwardly projecting portion IBa and the 4depending boss 23a prevent relative .rotation between the closure members and the can top but permit sliding movement thereof. Onel edge of the depending boss 23a abuts against the edge of the end lSa of the offset portion I5a to limit closing movement of the closure members.

From the foregoing description, itwill be seen that a highly eiilcient dispensing container is herewith provided. The closure is shiftable to 6 an open position against the action of the spring which tends to close and maintain the closurel in a position covering -and closing the dispensing opening. The closure member is limited in its vmovementqi'n both directions and the spring closing means is housed within the outer closure member so thatthe contents of the container will not come in co'ntact therewith. 'The inner closure lmember effectively the vslot so as to prevent the contents of the container from gaining access Ato the spring recess in the outer closure member.

It is to be clearly understood that.various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing container comprising a body by said closure for normally maintaining the closure covering the dispensing opening.

2. A dispensing container comprising a'body portion, a can top therefor having a dispensing opening, a closure for controlling the dispensing opening and having a recess therein, means -for slidably mounting said closure on the can top, and spring means housed within said recess for normally maintaining the closure covering the dispensing opening.

3. A dispensing container comprising a body portion, a can top therefor having a slot and a dispensing opening, a closure for controlling the 'dispensing opening and having a recess therein,

means extending through said slot for slidably vmounting said closure on the cover top, and a spring housed within said recess for normally maintaining the closure `covering the dispensing opening.

4. A dispensing container 'comprising a body portion, a can top therefor having a slot and a dispensing opening, an outer closure member overlying the slot and adapted to control the dispensing opening, said outer closure member having a recess therein opening toward said slot, an inner spring closure member underlying the slot and adapted to controlv the dispensing opening, means extending through said slot for connecting said closure members for sliding movement in unison, and spring means housed within the recess ln said outer closure member for normally maintaining both of said closure members covering the dispensing opening.

5. A dispensing container comprising a body portion, a can top therefor having a slot and a dispensing opening, `an outer closure member overlying the slot and adapted to control the dispensing opening, said outer closure member having a recess therein opening toward the slot, means providing an upward projection on the can top extending into the recess in said outer closure member, an inner closure member un derlylng the slot land adapted to control the dispensing opening, means extending through said slot for connecting said closure, members for sliding movement in unison, and' a spring disp osed within said recess and abutting against the overlying the slot and adapted to control the dispensing opening, said outer closure member hav-l ing a recess therein opening toward the slot, an upward projection on the cantop at one end of the slot extending into the recess in said outer closure member, an inner A'closure member underlying the slot and adapted to control the dispensing opening, said outer closure member having a depending boss extending into the slot and of substantially the same width thereof forguiding the closure member in rectilinear movement, means connecting said inner closure member to said boss for permitting sliding movement of said closure members in unison, and a spring disposed in said recess and abutting against said outer closure member and the upward projection on the cantop for normallymaintaining both ofv member having a recess therein opening towardV the slot, means providing an upward projection on said outwardly'oifset portion extending, into the recess in said outer closure member, an inner spring closurev member underlying vthe slot and adapted to control the dispensing opening, means extending through said slot for connecting said closure members for sliding movement in unison,

vand spring means housed within said recess and abutting against the outer closure member and members covering the upward projection'on the 'outwardly oilset portion fornormally maintaining both of said closure members covering the dispensing opening. 8. A dispensing container comprising a body portion, a can top therefor having a slot and a dispensing opening, an outer closure member \over1ying the slot and adapted to control the dispensing'I opening, said outer closure member having a recess therein opening toward the-slot and a depending boss extending into the slot and of substantially the same width.thereof, means providing an upward projection on the can top extending into the recess in said outer closure member, said boss having a recess therein, an inner closure members underlying the slot and adapted to control the dispensing opening, said inner closure member havinga projection extending int'o the recess in said boss' for properly positioning both of said closure members relative .to one another, neans connecting said inner closure member to said boss, and spring means housed within the recess in saidv outer closure member and abutting against the outer closure member and the upward projection on the can top for normally maintaining both of said closure the dispensing opening. (':HARLES C. MORRISON. 

